Désirée Jones-Rubin. Assessing Vulnerability Factors of Children at UTMB Foster Care Clinics in Galveston County

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Presenter/Author: Desiree Jones-Rubin, MD
Resident, University of Texas Medical Branch

Contributing Author/Mentor: Patricia Beach, MD
Professor, University of Texas Medical Branch



POSTER ABSTRACT  (View Poster PDF)

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to determine whether there is an association between children of certain race or ethnicity in foster care and previous exposure to disruptive familial networks, poor social contexts, and abuse and neglect.

Background: Children in foster care are at increased risk for a host of negative outcomes encompassing emotional, behavioral, neurobiological, and social realms. With prior history of maltreatment and the trauma of being separated from their biological parents, foster youth are susceptible to posttraumatic stress disorder. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether there is an association between children of certain race or ethnicity in foster care and previous exposure to disruptive familial networks, poor social contexts, and abuse and neglect.

Methods: The charts of 200 individuals at UTMB foster care clinic in Galveston county were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Neglect was the most common form of maltreatment (65%), followed by unknown abuse type (14.5%), multiple forms of abuse (10.5%), and physical abuse (3%). No elevated frequencies were noted among parent mental health, domestic violence, single parent home, family size, previous CPS investigations, and custody conflicts. However, guardian substance abuse was present in 61% of cases. No correlation was evident among guardian substance use, neglect, race, and ethnicity. There was statistical significance of young age with both neglect (T(df)= -4.6(198); p<0.001) and guardian substance abuse (T(df)= -4.1(196); p<0.001).

Conclusion: Through identification of the root etiology of maltreatment, we can aid in implementing prevention programs and effective solutions. Due to gaps in knowledge of certain variables among foster care youth in the EMR, we have constructed a new standardized form to be implemented in social history in EMR of all UTMB foster care patients.

References:
1 Bruskas, Delilah. “Children in Foster Care: A Vulnerable Population at Risk.” Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, vol. 21, May 2008, pp. 70–77.
2 Turney, Kristin, and Christopher Wildeman. “Mental and Physical Health of Children in Foster Care.” PEDIATRICS, vol. 138, no. 5, Nov. 2016.